France

Lille Travel Guide

Is it French or is it Flemish? It is hard for the visitor to
decide when visiting Lille, which has been officially part of
France for 350 years but still at its core retains the ambience of
the medieval wool towns of Flanders. The historic core of Vieux
Lille is filled with grand architecture and cobble-stoned streets
and squares, with a 'Grand Place' reminiscent of both Brussels and
Amsterdam.

This confusion of cultures does not detract from this bright and
beautiful city, set in the north of France, which was capital of
Flanders during the Middle Ages. With the advent of the Eurostar
fast train service from London, Lille, a major stop on the route to
Paris, has been revived as a weekend break destination, and has
plenty to offer longer-term tourists who arrive at its
international airport as well.

Vigorous shopping takes place along its commercial
thoroughfares, and some attractive sights beckon visitors, like the
neo-Gothic Notre Damme de la Treille Cathedral, and the Hospice
Comtesse, a former hospital housing a museum of Flemish art,
furniture and ceramics. Old Lille is pleasant to stroll through,
with its cobbled streets and mixture of shops, restaurants and
cathedrals. Those whose taste runs to art will also find a feast
here, at the Musée des Beaux-Arts and at the Musée
d'Art Moderne.

Many visitors, though, are in Lille mainly for the beer. The
best Belgian beers are on tap and served up in most of the popular
bars, to wash down the delicious local cuisine, which focuses on
seafood and rich sauces. If your main aim is to eat, drink and make
merry in a historic environment, Lille is the place to be.

The best thing about Lille is that its local populace is not
only welcoming, but adept at enjoying life, as can be witnessed by
visiting any of the many bars and bistros (known as
estaminets) in this fun city, which belies its reputation
as the grim northerly cousin of pretty Paris.

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